Ratio mixing device



June 1964 A. L. SENSENBAUGH 3,135,498

RATIO MIXING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14. 1961 United States Patent 3,135,498 RATEU MIXKNG DEVKCE Andrew L. Sensenbangh, 1541 Edwardshurg Ava, Elldiart, Ind. Filed Aug. 14, 1% Ser. No. 131,356 11 Claims. (Cl. 259-43) This invention relates to a ratio mixing device. The device is particularly intended for use in mixing two liquids in accurately predetermined proportions. One usage for which the device is particularly well suited is for mixing oil with gasoline to serve as fuel for two-cycle internal combustion engines, such as the engines of outboard motors and power lawnmowers, and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a ratio of mixing device which is of simple and inexpensive construction, easy to operate, and which permits quick and accurate supply of a predetermined quantity of one liquid to a receptacle having a predetermined quantity of another liquid therein.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein a collapsible liquid measuring container has a perforated top and an elongated manipulating means projecting above said top, which container is adapted to be inserted in a larger liquid receptacle and to be collapsed in said receptacle for introducing the contents of the container into the receptacle.

A further object is to provide a device of this character for mixing two liquids in a predetermined ratio, wherein a collapsible container having a perforated top is carried by advancing means operable to progressively collapse said container within a larger receptacle and to simultaneously mix the liquid discharged from the collapsed container with liquid contained in said receptacle.

A further object is to provide a device of this character for gradually discharging a liquid from a small container into a larger liquid containing receptacle and for simultaneously agitating said liquids to mix them uniformly.

A further object is to provide a device of this character utilizing a collapsible container with a perforated top suspended from an elongated screw-threaded member rotatable relative to a mating member to simultaneously actuate an agitator and collapse said container, said mating member accommodating non-rotative withdrawal of said threaded member for rapid expansion of said container.

Other objects will be fication.

In the drawings:

apparent from the following speci- FIG. 1 is atop plan view of the device applied to a receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail axial sectional view of a portion of the device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the top of a container used in the device;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a portion of the device showing the container in collapsed condition; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged axial detail sectional view illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a liquid receptacle having a bottom 12, side walls 14, anda perforated cover 16. The container 10 may be of any desired shape having a substantially uniform cross-section throughout its height, and the cover 16 may be removably mounted or ice permanently mounted as desired, and its cover aperture will preferably be of selected size and, as here illustrated, will preferably be substantially square in outline. However, the shape of the cover opening may vary as desired.

My improved mixing device comprises a plate portion 20 adapted to be mounted upon the container cover 16 to span the opening thereof. In the form shown, the plate 20 is secured to the cover 16 by securing members 22, such as screws, rivets or the like. The plate 20 has a filling opening 24 formed therein, preferably outlined by a tubular projection 26. Centrally thereof the plate 20 has a tubular projection 28. The plate 29 has a centrally aperturcd upwardly offset Web 30 formed within tubular projection 23.

A collapsible container 32 has a bottom 34, side walls 36, and a cover 38 provided with a plurality of apertures 49. The cover 38 has centrally secured thereto the lower end of an elongated vertical rod 42 which passes through the opening in the web 30. The collapsible container 32 is imperforate at its bottom and side walls and is preferably formed of synthetic material or leakproof fiber or fabric at the side walls 36 thereof. Thus the side walls 36 of the collapsible container 32 may be formed of a plastic film tubing of thin section to accommodate collapse thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The extent of collapse will preferably be such that a tube having an extended length of eight to ten inches may collapse to an overall length of one-half inch or less. The container will preferably have a wire ring 44 therein at the junction of the bottom 34 and side walls 36 thereof. If desired, the bottom 34 may be a part of or fixedly secured to the bottom 12 of the container, and the ring 44 may be a wire snap ring to anchor the tubular side wall 36 to the socketed bottom 34.

In the form shown, the container top 38 is part of a cup-shaped member having a cylindrical upturned flange 4.6 with a beaded edge adapted to receive a snap ring 48,

utilized to anchor the upper end of the tubular wall 36 of the container 32 to the cylindrical flange 46.

As here illustrated, the rod 42 is preferably screwthreaded for the major portion 5th of the length thereof, and has a longitudinal keyway 52 formed therein. The upper end of the rod 42 may mount a crank 54. The lower end 56 of the rod is preferably reduced in diameter and mounts spaced washers 58 and 6% at opposite sides of a central aperture in the container cover 33 through which the reduced portion 56 extends. The lower washer 53 is rotatably retained by a headed rod end or part 62. In the construction shown, the rod 42 is rotatable relative to the container 32 so that rotation of said rod is not transmitted to the container 32.

The tubular projection 28 is spanned by a bushing ring 64 at its upper end, said bushing ring preferably being held in place by means of a snap ring 66 seating in registering grooves formed therein and in the inner periphery of the tubular projection 23'. An annular clearance space is provided between the bushing 64 and the web 30 within which fit a pair of inclined plates 68 having grooved or recessed inner edges adapted to mesh with the screw threads of the threaded part 5t) of the shaft 42 in their normal or operative position, best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The bushing 64 has a snug but sliding fit around 7 the thread part 59 of the shaft. The arrangement is such rod 42. The inclined nut forming plates 68 are normally positioned gravitally so that they resume the position as illustrated in FIG. 3 engaging the threads 50 of the rod 42 as soon as upward pull upon the rod 42 is released. Consequently, the construction shown prevents downward pushing of the rod without rotation, but permits upward pull of the rod without rotation. By this means coupled with the rotative connection of the lower end 56 of the rod 42 with the top of the container 32, the container 32 may be extended or collapsed at will within the receptacle without rotation thereof.

In some instances it may be desirable to agitate or stir the mixed liquids within the receptacle 10. The plate may carry means for accomplishing such agitation or stirring. As here shown, a sleeve 70 freely encircles the threaded portion 50 of the rod 42 and has a flange 72 at its upper end seated in a recess below the web and rotatively retained therein by a retainer ring 74 carried by the plate 20. The sleeve 70 carries a key member 76 slidable in the keyway 52 of the threaded part 50 of the rod 42. The sleeve 70 projects below the level of the container cover 16, and at its lower end mounts fixedly one or more laterally projecting arms 78 terminating in substantially vertical arms 80 from which project outwardly one or more agitator blades 82. The vertical agitator arms 80 preferably have suificient clearance with the container 32 to insure against contact therewith and to accommodate the collapse of the tube, as illustrated in FIG. 6, without danger of contact with the agitator parts.

The container 32 will preferably be of a length to extend substantially full height of the receptacle 19 and will have a cross-sectional area or volume so proportioned to the volume of the receptacle It as to represent the ratio in which the two liquids, such as oil and gasoline, are to be proportioned. Thus, assuming that the receptacle 10 is empty and that the container 32 represents the volume of oil to be mixed with gasoline filling the receptacle to provide a proper fuel for two-cycle internal combustion engines, the device will preferably be used by filling the receptacle 32 with oil while in its extended position illustrated in FIG. 2, as by introducing oil through the filling opening 24. When the container 32 has been filled to its upper level, the second liquid, such as gasoline, is then introduced into the receptacle 10 as through the opening 24 to fill the receptacle. Thereupon, the container 32 is collapsed by downward movement thereof and the liquid contained therein is expelled through the top openings and mixed with the liquid within the body of the receptacle 10. In the present device this operation is performed by the rotative advance of the threaded portion 59 of the rod, progressively lowering the end part 56 of the rod which is rotatably connected to the apertured top 38 of the container 32. This operation in the present device produces simultaneously rotation of the agitator unit 78, 80, 82 so as to mix the oil uniformly within the gasoline. The container 32 will collapse to such small size, for example a height not greatly exceeding one-half inch, that will insure substantially complete discharge of its contents into the receptacle and will admit of mixture of the liquid within the container quite uniformly as the container is emptied through a pouring spout 11.

The device assures that the proper proportion of the constituent liquids will be maintained uniformly regardless of full or partial filling thereof. Thus, assuming that the receptacle 10 is partially filled with a mixture of the liquids in the selected proportion, and it is desired to refill the receptacle 10, the container 32 will first be fully collapsed, or at least collapsed to a level below the level of the liquid therein, so that it may be filled with liquid of the mixture to the level of the mixture within the receptacle 10. Thereupon, the container 32 is fully extended so that the upper portion thereof above the level of the liquid mixture in the receptacle 10 will be empty. The liquid, such as oil, to be added in selected proportions to the second liquid, such as gasoline, is then introduced into the device to fill the remainder of the container 32. Thereupon, the other liquid, such as gasoline, is added until the receptacle 10 is filled. Subsequent collapse of the container 32 will then discharge the liquid therein for mixture with the liquid in the receptacle 10, as previously explained.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention characterized by power operation as distinguished from manual operation. In this construction, similar parts bear the same reference numerals employed in the preceding embodiment. The tubular projection 28 is spanned by the hub of a bevel gear 92. The hub preferably has a reduced portion fitting rotatably in the tubular projection 28 and releasably locked therein by split ring 94 seating in registering or mating grooves in the hub and the tubular projection. The hub 90 carries a key 96 projecting into slot 52 of the threaded shaft 50. Any suitable means may be provided to drive the gear 90, 92, the same being here illustrated as a bevel gear 98 mounted on a drive shaft 100. In all other particulars, the construction of FIG. 7 is substantially the same as that described above, and it will be apparent that by power drive through the drive shaft 100 the container 32 and the agitators 78, 80, 82 may be operated to assure uniform mixture of two liquids in the receptacle 10. The provision of the split nut parts 63 similar to those described above accommodates axial advance of the threaded rod upon rotation and accommodates non-rotative manual upward withdrawal of said threaded rod at will. Consequently, power drive means associated with the shaft 100 may be either reversible or unidirectional to drive the threaded rod downwardly only. The power driven device operates in the same fashion to properly proportion the two liquids supplied to the receptacle, as described above.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible container within said receptacle below said filling opening and having a top opening, and actuating means carried by said container and vertically shiftable relative to and projecting above said receptacle, said actuating means being operable to selectively collapse and extend said container within said receptacle said container extending for the major portion of the height of said receptacle and having predetermined lateral clearance in said receptacle.

2. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid confining container within said receptacle below said filling opening having a perforate top and a longitudinally collapsible tubular body having a volume constituting a predetermined proportion of the volume of said receptacle, and means connected to said top and projecting from said receptacle and operable to selectively collapse said container to discharge its contents into said receptacle and to extend said container in said receptacle.

3. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid confining container Within said receptacle below said filling opening having a perforate top and a longitudinally collapsible tubular body, and means connected to said top and projecting from said receptacle and operable to selectively collapse said container to discharge its contents into said receptacle, said container having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout its height smaller than the cross-sectional area of said receptacle and extending for the major portion of the height of said receptacle.

4-. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid confining container of predetermined volume smaller than the volume of said receptacle and positioned within said receptacle below said filling opening and having a perforate top and a longitudinally collapsible tubular body, and means connected to said top and projecting from said receptacle and operable to selectively collapse said container to discharge its contents into said receptacle, said container tubular body being of substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension and formed of thin plastic film collapsible endwise to a length less than one-fifth of its extended length.

5. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid confining container of predetermined capacity less than the capacity of said receptacle and positioned within said receptacle below said filling opening and having a perforate top and a longitudinally collapsible tubular body, and means conected to said top and projecting from said receptacle and operable to selectively collapse said container to discharge its content in said receptacle, and means for agitating the contents of said receptacle.

6. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid confining container withing said receptacle below said filling opening having a perforate top and a longitudinally collapsible tubular body, means connected to said top and projecting from said receptacle and operable to selectively collapse said container to discharge its content in said receptacle, and means for agitating the contents of said receptacle simultaneously with collapse of said container, said container having a volume when extended which has a predetermined ratio to the volume of said receptacle.

7. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid-confining container within said receptacle below said filling opening and of predetermined size relative to said receptacle, said container having an apertured top, an elongated screw-threaded member rotatably carried by said top and projecting from said receptacle, and means carried by said receptacle and meshing with said screw-threaded member for axially advancing said screw-threaded member upon rotation thereof to collapse said container and discharge its contents into said receptacle.

8. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid-confining container within said receptacle below said filling opening and having a size of predetermined ratio to the size of said receptacle, said container having an apertured top, an elongated screw-threaded member rotatably carried by said top and projecting from said receptacle, and split nut means carried by said receptacle and engaging said screw-threaded member to axially advance said member upon rotation thereof to collapse said container for discharge of its contents into said receptacle, said nut means accommodating non-rotative advance of said screwthreaded member in one direction.

9. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a collapsible liquid-confining container within said receptacle below said filling opening and of a predetermined size smaller than said receptacle, said container having an apertured top, an elongated substantially vertical member carried by and projecting upwardly from said container and terminating above said receptacle, said member being actuable to selectively collapse said container to discharge into said receptacle, and means carried by said receptacle for holding said vertical member in selected adjustment in said receptacle.

10. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a vertically collapsible liquidconfining container within said receptacle below said filling opening, said container having an apertured top,

7 an elongated vertical member rotatably carried by said top and projecting upwardly to terminate above said receptacle, means carried by said receptacle and cooperating with said member to axially shift said member relative to said receptacle upon rotation of said member, and an agitator within and journaled by said receptacle coaxially of and rotated by said member.

11. A ratio mixing device comprising a receptacle having a top filling opening, a vertically collapsible liquidconfining container within said receptacle below said filling opening, said container having an apertured top, an elongated vertical member rotatably carried by said top and projecting upwardly to terminate above said receptacle, means carried by said receptacle and cooperating with said member to axially shift said member relative to said receptacle upon rotation of said member, and an agitator within and journaled by said receptacle for rotation around said container, said member and agitator having interfitting relatively slidable rotation-transmitting parts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,403 Fulton Jan. 23, 1906 1,312,942 Anderson Aug. 12, 1919 2,618,414 Matlas Nov. 18, 1952 

1. A RATIO MIXING DEVICE COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE HAVING A TOP FILLING OPENING, A COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE BELOW SAID FILLING OPENING AND HAVING A TOP OPENING, AND ACTUATING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CONTAINER AND VERTICALLY SHIFTABLE RELATIVE TO AND PROJECTING ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE, SAID ACTUATING MEANS BEING OP- 